A Florida panther was struck and killed by a vehicle on November 22, making it the 30th panther death of the year in the state and marking a grim milestone: the number of Florida panther deaths has more than doubled this year compared to 2023.
This is the highest death toll for this critically endangered species since 2018, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The vast majority of panthers have died after being struck by vehicles, including five in the past month. A panther was killed earlier this year after being hit by a train. The most recent panther death occurred Nov. 22, when a 3-year-old panther was struck by a car on southbound SR-29. The collision took place about two miles south of a local shooting range, according to Florida authorities.
Tim Donovan/FWC
At least 239 Florida panthers have died in vehicle collisions in the past 10 years, according to Panther Crossing, an organization dedicated to reducing animal deaths from cars. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has already issued statements encouraging motorists to slow down in areas in several South Florida counties where panthers are known to be active.
There are only between 120 and 230 Florida panthers in the wild, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Three newborn cubs were spotted in the Sunshine State earlier this year. The animals were once common in the Southeast, but now live primarily along Florida’s Gulf Coast, CBS News previously reported.
The panther population has been largely decimated by hunting, according to the National Wildlife Federation, and remains susceptible to low genetic diversity, disease and habitat loss. It is “so endangered that it is vulnerable to almost all major threats,” according to the NWF.
